Would my situation work for bonding/marathon bonding?

[Heaven]

Hello everyone

Just putting out a few feelers.

For those who don’t know, I have a 6 month old solo bun Sam (who I’m likely planning to neuter – definitely will be if I bond him. The circling and leg humping has just started to set in haha).

I live in a very small flat which Sam’s had complete access to, and within my living space it wouldn’t be feasible to house 2 separate buns for months of pre bonding especially since Sam is used to being free roam.

I was thinking of 2 options for bonding him:
1) speed dates at a shelter, finding a suitable bunfriend & bringing them home together for a marathon bond at my home (I am able to work from home with my job). Would this be a no-go with bringing someone new into Sam’s territory? Is there a way it could work?
2) the shelter offers a bonding service where you check in your solo bun for a week or so & then collect them as a bonded pair. Again, would there be issues bringing two back to the first bunny’s territory?

Otherwise I’m not sure what would be feasible besides waiting until I move house in a year or so and bonding the ‘conventional’ way.

All advice appreciated!

Shout out to Asriel&Bombur (I know your boys are unbonded and having separate playtime in one room) and also Sarahthegemini (think I read you marathon bonded your two?)

Thanks everyone

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi Heaven,

The problem with marathon bonding yourself is that ideally you should still prebond before starting it. In your situation, I think sending him to the rescue for them to bond him would work best. I know that means there’s also no prebonding, but rescues are experienced, and it will be a totally neutral space. While they were bonding, you could fully clean and maybe rearrange some furniture, and hopefully when they came home, Sam wouldn’t feel too territorial. Luckily, generally boys are less territorial than girls too, so that should work in your favour.

An alternative would be making one room off limits to him from now on, in anticipation of using it as a bonding space in the future – eg. stop him going into your bathroom, which is any easy one, since it’s a room that we clean pretty regularly anyway, so shouldn’t retain smells too much.

BUT, bonding is stressful and hassle, and if you can get someone else to do it, I would advocate that!

[Heaven]

Hi S&L,

Thanks so much for your thoughts! The additional advantage of having a shelter do it would be that I could use that time to go on holiday as someone would be conveniently watching the buns

I like the idea of keeping a room off limits for a bonding space, though I don’t know where the second bun would be able to live during that time (unless there’s no prebonding & I spend 48 hours straight in the bathroom with them, haha).

Another thing is I wouldn’t have any chance to get to know the new bunny myself before he/she arrived, which is the advantage of bonding at home. Hopefully though, I’ve heard that the new bun tends to copy the first bun? So Sam can pass on all his good habits.

So we think it would be alright bringing the two back into Sam’s original territory? Would there also be issues with the new bunny warming up to me? I was really lucky with Sam, it only took a couple of months for me to become his bestest pal ;p

[Vienna Blue in France]

For me, it’s an absolute no brainer. Get rescue to do it !!

Whilst they are away, clean thoroughly the flat where Sam has had access to and change a few bits of furntiure around when they arrive or add a few carboard boxes to cover up main “landmarks” in your flat. You have to make Sam think he is not “home”. You can move the boxes around each day and then take them away gradually.
Put a ground sheet down or cardboard sheets or anything to chnage the landscape until they are bonded at home.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Re you not knowing new bun….. well i reckon if Sam is happy, then you will be happy.

[sarahthegemini]

I think in your situation, I would opt for boarding Sam and having him bonded at the shelter. I did marathon bond mine but I did roughly 6 weeks (I think?) pre bonding. I think if you were to bring a bun into your home, he/she may act very differently, likely quite submissive until he/she is settled in and then they might decide to act out once comfortable which could cause problems.

The only thing to keep in mind if you have him bonded at the shelter is you’ll still need to do some bonding when you bring them back home, probably to cement them in their permanent home? So, constant supervision for the first couple of days at least. Although there’s still the risk of the new bun changing once settled. Hmm, this is quite tricky actually!

How feasible would it be to split your flat in two? I know it’s not ideal. I had to split my house in two (just the downstairs as at that point no bun had dared go upstsirs) and my house was tiny. Sam won’t be happy to have his space cut down but as it’d hopefully only be for a couple of months it might be worth it?

[Sirius&Luna]

I was wondering that too Sarah, but since they’ would be being bonded in totally neutral territory, hopefully the ‘settling’ part won’t happen because they’re both out of usual territory? Lots of shelters do offer a bonding service, and I don’t think they would do so if there was a high rate of break ups when they got home… I think the settling is more for one settled rabbit, and one brand new?

I do agree with you though – think monitoring them for the first few days at home is essential.

[Heaven]

Thanks for your replies everyone!

In terms of splitting the flat in two, not very straightforward I don’t think. I have a bedroom where Sam lives with an adjacent “box room”/walk in wardrobe, then a small hallway, kitchen, bathroom, & my housemate’s room (no bunnies allowed). I could potentially divide my room in half, but they really wouldn’t have much space at all — and nor would I! 

Good point S&L, shelters probably wouldn’t offer a bonding service if there was a high rate of break ups – and I can always ask the shelter for advice on what to do when I bring them both back for the first time. I’d be fine working from home for a few days initially & keeping a close watch. But yes, the worry is that once they returned to non-neutral ground then Sam might get territorial – or the new bun might have a change of character & act out once he/she is settled in.

Also – I’d prefer to get another boy, though lots of people recommend a boy/girl pair? Thoughts?

[Sirius&Luna]

Welllll, my boys LOVE each other, and Luna is the difficult one. I think two boys with the right personality can be the best of friends

I would definitely say, in general, male rabbits are much less highly strung. I’ve had 4 male rabbits recently and one female, and Luna is the most difficult by far. Unless, I got super unlucky with a very stroppy female? She’s also much smarter than both the boys, so maybe its intelligence related too.

[Deleted User]

I think if you’re going to bring him to a shelter to attempt a bond anyways, then you might as well speed date to see who he seems more comfortable with. He could fall in love with another beautiful helicopter eared girl, or he could make best pals with a fluffy little guy. You just never know. Maybe you can see if there’s one or two he got along with best and pick the one you saw the most positive signs with.

[Heaven]

Right, sooo my plan of action for the next few months should be:

1) Book Sam for his neuter (eeek!)
2) Send application form to shelter, take Sam for speed dates
3) Check him into shelter for his bond-cation
4) Blitz the house, rearrange the furniture, prepare for the arrival <3
5) Bring two buns home, keep in a confined space at first & watch closely!

Excited! Nervous! What do we think – good plan?

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Sirius&Luna on 3/29/2018 7:55 AM

I was wondering that too Sarah, but since they’ would be being bonded in totally neutral territory, hopefully the ‘settling’ part won’t happen because they’re both out of usual territory? Lots of shelters do offer a bonding service, and I don’t think they would do so if there was a high rate of break ups when they got home… I think the settling is more for one settled rabbit, and one brand new?

I do agree with you though – think monitoring them for the first few days at home is essential.

I suppose that’s true Definitely recommend monitoring though. I think of bringing back a bonded pair to a new house is sort of like moving from neutral to semi neutral. I mean, not really but in the sense that they might take a bit of a step back. So monitoring for the first few days would be very wise!

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Heaven on 3/29/2018 9:51 AM

Right, sooo my plan of action for the next few months should be:

1) Book Sam for his neuter (eeek!)
2) Send application form to shelter, take Sam for speed dates
3) Check him into shelter for his bond-cation
4) Blitz the house, rearrange the furniture, prepare for the arrival <3
5) Bring two buns home, keep in a confined space at first & watch closely!

Excited! Nervous! What do we think – good plan?

Sounds good! I wonder, if you have a bit of a gap between the speed dating and the actual bond-cation (), could you take a blanket of Sams for the chosen bun, and see if the shelter will let you have something of the chosen ones to give to Sam. Sort of speed – pre-bonding 

[Sirius&Luna]

haha yesss, I love speed pre-bonding. Please make that a thing

[Heaven]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 3/29/2018 10:05 AM

if you have a bit of a gap between the speed dating and the actual bond-cation (), could you take a blanket of Sams for the chosen bun, and see if the shelter will let you have something of the chosen ones to give to Sam. Sort of speed – pre-bonding 

Love it! What a great idea, I will definitely ask haha, “the chosen one”!

I’ve actually been thinking about getting a new bed & rug for my room so this would be an ideal opportunity for that too, heh. 

Will definitely keep everybunny posted!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Good plan list !!!
Wait a good while after neuteuring as his hormones will be all over the place.

My two were bonded at the bonders house, so not only somewhere else but in another country (they were bonded in Surrey, they live in France!!!!) !!!! Hahahahaa.
And i reckon with the cleaning and the changing around of furniture and putting boxes everywhere, you should see a quick adjustment to your home if they are bonded on leaving the bonder’s place.

Oh. And my male is soooo highly strung. It’s my female who is so laid back she nearly falls over !!!

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